Parish Council annual meeting

         

Wednesday, 16^th  May 2012 at 8.00 pm

                  

BUSINESS TO BE DONE

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FULL PARISH COUNCIL 8.00pm

1.        To receive apologies for absence 

2.            Membership of the council  

3.       To fix the amount of the chairperson’s allowance in pursuance of section 15[5] of LGA 1972

4.            To appoint members to serve on the under-mentioned committees

Burial Grounds, General Purposes, Environment, Finance & Grants, Planning

5.            To appoint representatives on the under-mentioned bodies

Marston Vale Community Liaison Group (1 Representative); Marston Vale Landfill Committee (1 Representative), Cranfield University/Airfield Liaison Committee (3 Reps), Village Hall Management Committee (1 Representative/Trustee), & Cranfield Village Sports Assoc. Tree Warden, Mid Beds Planning Consortium, Highway Authority Liaison

6.            To receive declarations of personal and/or prejudicial interests in any matter

7.            To confirm the minutes of the last meeting[s] [copy herewith]

8.            Clerks Report

9.            Health & Safety

10.         Reports from committees

10.1.               Planning Committee

10.2.               Environment Committee

10.3.               General Purposes

10.3.1.     Venue – PC Meetings

10.4.               Burial Grounds Committee

11.  Correspondence

12.  Financial matters and accounts for payment

12.1.               Annual return - year ending 31^st March 2012

13.  Reports from unitary councillors (and any other representative)

14.  Highway matters

buses

From Central Beds:

Timetable leaflets for the 45 have been previously distributed to newsagents and the Coop in Cranfield Village. Budgens were unable to take them. I will arrange for additional quantities to be supplied if required.

Tick, tock tock, tick tick, tock, tick tick tick

Well, what has happened to the clock? Never heard about British summer time? galloping ahead? A parishioner writes:

Good morning all,

 

Some weeks ago the whole of the United Kingdom moved forward 1 hour into British summer time (although the weather disagreed) but it seems Cranfield missed out on this momentous occasion, Why?  Because the church clock has not been changed!!!!!

 

I, and many others, would appreciate it if the Parish Council could arrange for the clock to be adjusted as a matter of urgency, as I am running out of excuses for sleeping in.

 

Many thanks in advance

And a parish councillor writes:

I agree it is also about ten minutes fast now so is only 50 mins out of sync with the rest of the universe

 

The answer is this: Smiths of Derby are coming later this month to do the service and ensure the clock is adjusted. They are also doing a tutorial on adjusting the clock so that we can sort this out locally in future.  I have 2 volunteers who are joining me in this project so that we can ensure that we maintain CMT (Cranfield Mean Time) for the foreseeable future 

 

Cold calling and St Johns Ambulance

Despite signs saying we are a No Cold Calling Zone in a way we aren't because it still happens. From J-Witnesses who I delay considerably from their mission to power companies to blokes who have told me my fascias are looking a bit falling down to...on your bikes guys. Anyway here is an update via Cranfield Parish Council and our local PCSO.


To Beds Police: Members of the Council have asked me to let you know that two men who claimed to be from St John Ambulance, arrived at PCllr Alan Morris's doorstep asking for a commitment to fund St John’s Ambulance; they had a form of identification however they claimed that the organisation had informed the Parish Council they would be passing through the village knocking on doors asking for money.  The Clerk confirmed that no contact had been received from St Johns.

I hope that this information is of help, and would be grateful if you would let me have any information on your findings.




PCSO Juliet Wright (nearly said Bravo) replied


The control room confirmed to us that St Johns Ambulance had contacted them sometime ago to say they would be in the Central Beds area.
Reports have also come in from other villages to say they have had them canvassing as well.
If anyone is any doubt about cold callers they should always ring 101 to report it as its always best to be on the safe side.Regards 






You can get Juliet on Juliet.Wright@Bedfordshire.pnn.Police.uk

Diamond Party on Facebook

Check out how plans for Cranfield's Diamond Jubilee Party in  the park is going on Facebook or email cranparty@gmail.com Still building to 5 June with fireworks, bands including the Muckabouts and ever popular Sounds Familiar.  

Agenda for parish council 2 may

Here is the agenda for the parish council committee meetings on Wednesday evening ( 8pm Holywell School)

1.     Planning Committee

1.1.   General Planning Matters

1.2.   Home Farm

1.3.   Neighbourhood Plan

1.4.   New Member applications

1.5.   Bus – changes in routes, timings etc.

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

2.     General Purposes Committee

2.1.   Litter, School and Tech Park

2.2.   Save the Carpenters Arms campaign

2.3.   Traffic Calming

2.4.   Budgens Pond

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Item

3.     Environment Committee

3.1.   Resurfacing of Recreation Ground Entrance

3.2.   Dog waste bins – quotes, siting

3.3.   Trees:

3.3.1.     Recreation Ground trees – species

3.3.2.     Annual tree maintenance – presentation of draft

3.3.3.     2^nd Phase tree work

3.4.   Play area maintenance-

3.5.   Toddler play equipment – S106 monies

3.6.   Bye-Laws

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

4.     Burial Grounds

4.1.   Baby Area – Cemetery

4.2.   Church Wall

4.3.   Trees

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

Changes to Central Bedfordshire's Executive

Cllr Nigel Young is the new lead member for Sustainable Communities - Strategic Planning and Economic Development, replacing Cranfield's Cllr Ken Matthews who becomes Deputy Chairman of the Council's Development Management Committee.


In Children's Services the two new Deputy Executive Members for Children's Services are Cllrs Amanda Dodwell and Sue Clark (also Cranfield). 


Commenting on his changes, Cllr James Jamieson said: "I would like to thank Ken for the knowledge, skill and commitment he has brought to the Executive and I am pleased that the Development Management Committee will now benefit from his considerable experience. "

Reopening of the village hall

Reopening ceremony for Cranfield Village Hall. Chair and treasurer Marjorie Cotton and Trevor Dimmock who did the bulk of the work are pictured. Marjorie Cotton writes in the latest Cranfield Express: "We were supported by the Parish Council and given grants by WREN and Central Beds for the essential repairs. The dry rot was eradicated and a damp proof course installed, thanks to a grant from “Grassroots”. 

"It was a slower process raising the money for the roof and other work. We were given another grant from WREN. This was backed up by grants from the Lottery, the Wixam tree Trust, Bernard Sunley, The Steel Trust and a generous donation in memory of Jeanette Nash. We pressed on with sales and coffee mornings but it has been the sale of the caretaker’s house which has given us the rest of the money for the whole project, with little in hand. We are grateful to all those who gave us donations and supported our fundraising events."

SAVE THE CARPS!!!

Further to a recent village petition which has collected in excess of 750 signatures an action 

group committee has been formed to try  and preserve The Carpenters Arms as a 

community village public house.

After years of under investment and a series of short term landlords Charles
Wells Pub Company has decided that the pub no longer fits their businessmodel, and have decided to close/sell The Carpenters Arms.

As a group we are looking into the option of purchasing the property & land
as a locally owned property company which would allow the pub to continue
trading as a tenanted freehold business.

A viability study is underway and a team of professional advisers are being
assembled to set up the private property company and produce a business
plan.

We are seeking indications from individuals, groups & businesses who would
consider buying shares in the property & land which would attract annual
dividend payments.

If you would like further details or to offer your assistance, services or support
in anyway please contact:
Dick Peake Acting Chairman “Save The Carps @ Cranfield”
Email : dick.peake@AperioDI.com
Mobile: 07800 792185
https://www.facebook.com/thecarpscranfield
www.cranfieldcarps.co.uk <http://www.cranfieldcarps.co.uk/>
www.cranfieldcarps.com <http://www.cranfieldcarps.com/>
(Websites are currently under development)

Charles Wells' community policy states: Our home town community in Bedford is important to us, and we want to protect it for future generations.  Similarly, the communities around each and every one of our pubs is precious to them and they play a crucial role in the fabric of that society. It's therefore important for us to show responsibilty for those around us.

http://www.charleswells.co.uk/home/about/social-responsibility/community-activity

Where were you?

Cranfield oral history buff Margaret Rooney is aiming to capture the moments from the past that people, still living remember. With the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in

Cranfield in mind she is co-ordinating the compilation of an oral history of the recollections of people who remember the events of 1952 and 1953. She is particularly interested in interviewing people who were living in Cranfield at that time.

* Do you remember the death of King George VI and the coronation of the Queen?

* What were you doing? Where were you living? Were you working or at school?

* What changes in the last 60 years have been good? What changes are not good?

This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to a local history archive. If enough interest is shown there will be sufficient memories to publish your recollections in a Cranfield Jubilee publication.

To find out more, please phone her on 751079 or 07889 926437, or drop a note to her at home, 8 Broad Green.

Diamond Jubilee in Cranfield

Cranfield’s Party in the Park

Tuesday 5^th June, 5pm - 10pm,

Recreation Ground, High Street

Join neighbours, friends, relatives and fellow parishioners in painting the village red, white and blue to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Bring a picnic and enjoy an evening of live music, “Queen and Duke” competition and finishing with a spectacular aerial firework display by Alchemy Fireworks!

Further details to be confirmed…Watch this space!

Contact: cranparty@gmail.com

St George's Day in Cranfield

Thanks to Cranfield ATC for getting the flag up

Neighbourhood plans

These are a key part of the government's 'localism' agenda. It is meant to channel local frustration at top down development aimed only at meeting targets and to give communities a say in how development takes place. 


The DCLG (department of Communities and Local Government) said in its impact statement last year:

"Communities are often unable to ensure that development meets local needs and takes satisfactory account of the tensions between development and conservation, environmental quality and pressure on services. This flaw in the current system can lead to development taking place against the wishes of the community, being delayed by objections (at expense to both business and the local authority) or blocked, compromising housing and economic growth. "

There is a cost to drawing up a neighbourhood plan and to make it valid it must be endorsed by a local poll. So who knows if this is practical or not. They are red hot for it in Marston and Mrs Ball and I are going to find out more next Wednesday night at a presentation  there.  Not missing any Euro-footie so what's not to like  about an evening in Marston talking about planning?


see DCLG info for more information 

Acorn play group

I accepted an invitation  to visit Acorn play group this morning. They have a split site if ever there was one, parcelled out between the football club and the scout hut. The problems are the same as my last visit several years ago but it is amazing the spirit with which they give children a great start in difficult conditions.

Their main problem is they are not the sole occupants of these premises so they spend huge amounts of time opening up and packing up every day and children's artwork on walls is not necessarily safe. And not being together is also a problem and results in a loss of some sort.

My own children went there in the 1980s and 1990s and we have fond memories. But they are still struggling with these circumstances. 

Allotments

A parishioner came to the annual parish meeting enquiring about allotments. We regrettably had to inform  him that our offer to buy some glebe (Church of England) land for that purpose had been rejected. I pointed out that there were some vacancies in Marston and Lidlington allotments. 

Public Transport

The Parish Council has been very active in promoting public transport to and from Cranfield and was in  talks with Milton Keynes Council, Central Beds and the Uni about developing services that reflect local needs, last year.  But the first anyone in Cranfield knew about the imminent changes to MK services this week was new timetables going up on the bus stops.

A CBC councillor present at the meeting on Wednesday night said the authority didn't know about these.

But MK Council has emailed a member of the parish council saying Central Beds were 'leading' on the changes and had 'liaised' with us (and the uni). Well not us. We just read the new timetables and wonder. See Alan Morris's article in next week's Cranfield Express for more deets.

Lower School

The Lower School is now Cranfield Church of England Academy which is a lot to say (and write) so I'm sticking with lower school. Head teacher Jo Farbon attended the annual parish meeting and gave a really helpful presentation about the issues facing the school as our population looks set to expand by to 1000 or more thanks to Home Farm and Central Motors. Chair Delise Ball reminded the meeting that one option which is nowhere near the table, as a solution,  is the Recreation Ground.  Cranfield is stuffed with vacant land including glebe land and the best answer is a new lower school on some of that.
Mrs Ball also reminded the meeting that charity Fields in Trust which facilitated the covenant on the Rec Ground, blocking development, has been approached by Central Beds about finding a way round that. The emails helpfully found their way in our direction and we asked some questions. 

Parade Service at Cranfield Parish Church

Here's some more Jube stuff

All local Uniformed Organisations, Youth and Children’s Groups are invited to participate in a service of celebration on Sunday 3rd June at 10.30am to mark the Queens’ Diamond Jubilee. 

The Service will last about 45 minutes and will include the opportunity for banners and flags to be paraded, for well-known songs and hymns to be sung and prayers said for the Royal Family. While there will be no formal march down the High Street (as on Remembrance Sunday) it is expected that there will be room for at least some groups to gather at the recently refurbished Village Hall prior to coming over to the church with banners etc. 

It would be very helpful if those groups hoping to join in this special service would let the Rector know and perhaps closer to the time give an indication of numbers expected. 

In addition if there is any particular message or display that any group may wish to make towards the service then we would be glad to hear. 

With Every Blessing Hugh Symes-Thompson, Rector 

revhugh@symes-thom.freeserve.co.uk Tel 01234 750214 

Land for allotments

We wrote to the Diocese of St Albans last year about buying glebe land at the Spinney for allotments and ultimately a cemetery extension. They have replied:

CRANFIELD – REQUEST TO PURCHASE GLEBE LAND

I am very sorry that, by oversight, I have failed to write to you earlier about the request from your council to purchase some glebe land to serve as an extension to the existing burial ground.

The Glebe Committee gave very careful consideration to this request when it met on 1 February.  It was decided that the council’s request could not be accepted.

I am sorry to have to send a disappointing reply.

Cranfest 7 July

CRANFEST 2012 The music festival at Cranfield United Football Club on 7th July

Description

Running from 1pm till 9pm, CRANFEST 2012 features a number of fantastic bands who will be performing throught the day together with food stalls and entertainment.

Tickets £5 available from May 7th. FIND IT ON FACEBOOK OR CONTACT TREVOR DOVE.

Sounds a great evening